Posted on 01/14/2010 5:55:53 PM PST by martin_fierro
You crash in a car and an air bag inflates to cushion the blow, but what happens if you crash on a motorcycle? That's the problem that the Thermahelm, a brain-cooling motorcycle helmet, tries to solve. It's a potentially life-saving technology--80% of all motorcycle fatalities involve head injuries.
The carbon-fiber helmet, designed by British motorcycle enthusiast Jullian Preston-Powers, contains two chemical packs in its lining. One pack contains ammonium nitrate and the other contains water. When a crash occurs, the packs mix together and create a cooling reaction that stabilizes brain temperature and eases swelling for up to 45 minutes--that leaves plenty of time for emergency services to arrive. Essentially, the helmet acts like an ice pack for the brain.
Preston-Powers expects the $430 helmet to go on sale this May, with a swanky version featuring GPS, bluetooth, and video cameras expected to hit store shelves in July. Want to see the Thermahelm in all its brain-saving glory? Check out the video.
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The article fails to mention just how big the damn thing is.
A few random thoughts:
-I’m wondering how many of that 80% didn’t/don’t wear a helmet in the first place? Or, to put it another way, were helmet-wearers a relatively small percentage of the head trauma cases? If so, the potential impact of this new design might not be all that great. (I don’t know the actual breakdown, btw, I’m just thinking aloud).
-Speaking of which, it *is* still a helmet. The riders I know who don’t wear now would still have the same objections - it limits sight and hearing. (Not saying I agree - I don’t ride - but that’s their position).
-Back in the mid 90’s, a Japanese firm was working on an airbag for sport bikes (i.e. “crotch rockets”). I don’t know how far they got with that project.
Can’t you just see someone waiting in line to board an airplane with this on?
Yeah, it looks HUGE! Lots of wind drag.
Honda does sell a model of the Goldwing touring bike with an air bag.
I’ve noticed that my fellow riders who think a helmet restricts vision, hearing or some other similar argument that makes then refuse to wear a helmet also tend not to be good riders. I’ve seen too many bike accidents — the ones with helmets usually complain about a ruined helmet while the helmet-less riders have their complaining days behind them.
The shattering glass absorbs impact.
The problem is, if you drop the helmet, you need to get a new one.
I bet it works a lot better than this thing, though.
The title is WRONG. This helmet is NOT an airbag, it is a cooling/stabilization device to prevent brain injury from overheating.
It looks like it will work as well as any other helmet, then cool the brain after impact.
The headline writer needs to actually read the literature.
This brain ain’t worth $430.
Not a crotch rocket, but Honda intruduced the airbag on the Goldwing a couple of years back.
If you are going to add the extra weight, why not just add more cushioning?
You can have a C5-C6 spinal cord injury even with wearing a helmet
Looks like Dark Helmet found a new career.
don’t much matter whether or not you’re wearing a helmet, at 90, the most likely difference is open or closed casket. but also you might ask, how many of the ones in helmets are wearing DOT approved helmets, and how many are the novelty helmets that don’t actually help.
and i love the idiots that use the “limited hearing” arguement, then get on a harley with open pipes.
Dang! I’ve lived in apartments smaller than that . . .
You can say that again!!
None of the nurses or paramedics (there are several) in my family know anything about brains overheating after an injury and “cooking in the skull”. I smell BS.
You know, I didn’t know there was even such a thing as a novelty helmet until you posted. Seems a little crazy to me to spend all that money for something that won’t protect the noggin’.
i’ve seen some that were extremely cheap- $30-40, and some that are ridiculously extravagant costing hundreds. the cheap ones are the barely there types that are useless, but unless you get pulled over and inspected, it *looks* like you’re complying with state law (MI is a mandatory helmet state).
and i’ve seen them with wings or spikes, or with tons of airbrushing, or slotted and drilled (for air passge i assume), some look like wwii soldier helmets, or roman gladiator helmets- i’ve even seen storm trooper and darth vader helmets.
they’re ridiculous and worthless for safety, but people think they look cool.
All helmets need to be replaced if you drop them.
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